Fantastic Apple Cup Plays For WSU Rooters

Sportspress Northwest provides a sampling of Apple Cup plays that delighted Washington State Cougars supporters. Now you decide: Which is most memorable?

Ryan Leaf threw for 358 yards and a couple of touchdowns when the Cougars defeated the Huskies 41-35 in 1997, earning WSU’s first trip to the Rose Bowl in 67 years. / Wiki Commons

Over the course of 104 meetings, the Washington-Washington State rivalry has produced scads of memorable, remarkable plays. For Washington State fans, no Apple Cup play remains as vivid as Drew Bledsoe’s 44-yard rainbow touchdown to Philip Bobo in a Pullman snow storm in 1992. Or maybe it was UW kicker Chuck Nelson’s infamous miss in 1982. Below are a sampling of plays that brought delight to Cougars rooters.

Lyle Maskells 43-Yard FG / 1930

Washington States Elmer Schwartz recovered a Merle Hufford fumble on the opening kickoff, setting up what proved to be Maskells game-winning 41-yard FG. WSUs 3-0 victory at Husky Stadium sent Washington State to the 1931 Rose Bowl.

Don Martins Whiff / 1967

A year earlier (1966), Martin had set a UW record by kicking four field goals in Washingtons 19-7 victory. A year later, Martin had a chance to give Washington a 10-9 win with 30 seconds to play, but botched a 31-yard field goal try, ending an eight-game UW winning streak over the Cougars. Unfortunately for Martin, it was the last play of his college career.

Grenda To Moore / 1968

Hank Grendas 64-yard TD pass to Freddie Moore capped an incredible afternoon for the WSU quarterback. He scored a TD, passed for two others, kicked three PATs, booted a field goal and did all of Washington State’s punting as WSU recorded its first shutout in series since 1948.

Husky Runs Wrong Way / 1971

In the fourth quarter of what became a 28-20 Washington victory, Gordy Guinn of Washington intercepted a short pass by WSU quarterback Ty Paine and, to the delight of Cougars fans, began legging it toward his OWN goal. Guinn managed to gain four wrong-way yards before one of his teammates tackled him.

Gary Larsens Sack Dance / 1972

The Cougars tied a nasty bow on Sonny Sixkillers career by sacking him seven times in a 27-10 win in Spokane. Larsen celebrated the end of Sixkiller’s career (infuriated the UW quarterback) by dancing over over his prostrate form after the last sack.

Nelsons Miss / 1982

Perfect on all 30 field goal attempts entering the game, UW kicker Chuck Nelsons 31st sailed wide right  barely  with 4:35 left, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic outcomes in Apple Cup history, WSU 24-20 win that snapped an eight-game Washington winning streak and knocked the No. 5-ranked Huskies out of the Rose Bowl.

Chandler Throws It Out Of End Zone / 1985

Playing in a Husky Stadium frozen solid (20 degrees at kickoff), Washington largely weathered a 167-yard rushing game by Rueben Mayes and had a chance to win by completing a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. But Chris Chandler threw the ball out of the end zone, ensuring a 21-20 WSU win.

Bledsoe To Bobo / 1992

In perhaps the signature play of Drew Bledsoes WSU career, he lobbed a 44-yard rainbow to Philip Bobo, who grabbed the ball from teammate C.J. Davis and slid face-first into a snowbank behind the end zone. The spectacular play created instant bedlam at Martin Stadium, where Bledsoe and the Cougars thoroughly demoralized the defending national champs.

Leaf To Jackson / 1997

WSU receiver Chris Jackson, who had trash talked the Huskies beforehand by saying, I dont have much respect for them as people or players, hooked up with Leaf on a 57-yard touchdown that gave WSU the lead for good and sent them to their first Rose Bowl in 67 years.

Brink To Harvey / 2005

Washington led 22-19 with 1:20 left, but lost when WSUs Alex Brink threw a 39-yard TD to Trandon Harvey, giving Washington State a 26-22 win at Husky Stadium.

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